Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout7/9/19981 1 1 CITY OF DIAMOND BAR MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION JULY 9, 1998 CALL TO ORDER: Chair/Leonard-Colby called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. at the South Coast Air Quality Management District Hearing Board Room, 21865 East Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, California. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: The audience was led in the Pledge of Allegiance by Commissioner Lin. ROLL CALL: Commissioners: Chair Leonard -Colby, Vice Chair Morris, and Commissioners Istik and Lin. Absent: C/Virginkar. VC/Morris arrived at 7:43 p.m. Also Present were: David Liu, Deputy Director of Public Works; Tseday Aberra, Administrative Assistant, and Lt. Dave Stothers, Walnut Sheriffs Department. I. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: A. Minutes of the Regular Meeting of June 11, 1998. C/Istik moved, C/Lin seconded, to approve the regular meeting minutes of May 14, 1998 as submitted_ Motion carried 3-0 with C/Virginkar and VC/Morris being absent. H. COMMISSION COMMENTS: C/Lin requested an update of the request for information regarding speed humps along Gold Rush Drive. DDPW/Liu responded that staff conducted sight visits and determined that currently there are sufficient traffic mitigation features such as warning signs and Botts dots to slow the traffic. In addition, the City has requested that the Walnut Sheriffs Department place the radar trailer on the street. Staff will followup on this issue for the August 13, 1998 Commission meeting. JULY 9, 1998 PAGE 2 Lt. Stothers stated he will check the log to determine whether the radar trailer was recently placed on the street. If not, he will schedule the radar trailer for Gold Rush Drive. III. PUBLIC COMMENTS - Don Gravdahl, 23988 Minnequa Drive, requested information regarding motor homes being used as dressing rooms on Breckenridge Court. DDPW/Liu responded that this matter is being forwarded to the City Council along with the report to Council from the Off -Site Parking Task Force on July 21, 1998. The Walnut Sheriffs Department and staff have been monitoring this ongoing situation. The only current applicable Municipal Code that governs the location of a trailer or vehicle over six feet in length is if it is parked too close to an intersection. If the proper signage is posted, the Sheriffs Department can apply enforcement to remove such a vehicle. Currently, no such signage is posted in the City. IV. CONSENT CALENDAR - None V. OLD BUSINESS: A. Goals & Objectives of the Traffic and Transportation Commission. DDPW/Liu presented staffs report. Staff recommends that the Traffic & Transportation Commission discuss and forward the attached ranked Fiscal Year 1998-1999 Goals and Objectives to the City Council in preparation for a joint study session. C/Liu moved, C/Istik seconded, to forward the Traffic and Transportation Commission's ranked listing of Fiscal Year 1998-1999 Goals and Objectives to the City Council in preparation for a joint study session. The motion was carried by the following Roll Call vote: AYES: COMMISSIONERS NOES: COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS Lin, Istik, Chair/Leonard-Colby None Virginkar, VC/Morris B. "2 Hour Parking, S a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday -Friday" signs along Fallowfield Drive and Pasco Court. AA/Aberra presented staffs report. Staff recommends that the Traffic and Transportation Commission receive public input regarding First Mortgage Corporation's request to modify the existing "2 Hour Parking, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., JULY 9, 1998 PAGE 3 Monday -Friday" signs along Fallowfield Drive and Pasco Court. Armando Zamacona, 20940 Pasco Court, said that since First Mortgage located to his area, the neighborhood has encountered ongoing problems and trash and has, he believes, reduced surrounding property values. He has not observed that the Sheriffs Department has enforced the current parking unless they are specifically called out. He is opposed to any modification to the existing "2 Hour Parking". Monee Tyler, 3220 Fallowfield, said she lives immediately next door to First Mortgage. She stated she is fed up with the trash, vehicles parking in front of her house and mailbox as well as, blocking her driveway and not obeying the 2 hour parking limitation, and persons conducting lewd acts in their vehicles. She indicated that the situation is a mental distress to her. Kathy Bandak, 3210 Fallowfield Drive, stated she lives two doors down from the mortgage company. She and her children have to be extra cautious because the vehicles parked in front of her house interefere with sight visibility. She has witnessed sexual acts by employees in vehicles parked in front of her home and she cannot let her children go out in their own front yard. In addition, mail delivery is impeded and she has been told that mail will not be delivered if the mailbox is inaccessible. When asked what solution she would offer, Kathy Bandak responded to C/Istik that First Mortgage can build underground parking, park along Corporate Terrace Way, carpool or better manage their business hours to accommodate their employees. Tom Hursman, 20909 Pasco Court, said he brings messages from several neighborhood residents. Due to the fact that vehicles are parking along both sides of Fallowfield Drive, motorists exiting Pasco Court, a cul-de-sac, onto Fallowfield Drive, have no vision. The residents are concerned about the safety of the children. Currently, no one is conforming to the 2 Hour Parking signs. The 2 Hour Parking signs present a problem for the residents as well. The neighborhood residents are willing to work with First Mortgage to reach a compromise and solution to this ongoing problem. There are a number of parking spaces (10-20) on Corporate Terrace Way and there is a crosswalk on Brea Canyon Cutoff Road. The residents are against increasing the parking beyond the current 2 hour limitation. In fact, the residents would prefer some other solution and no 2 hour limitation signs. Marla Perez, Vice President First Mortgage Corporation, apologized to the residents. She said that if these problems had been brought to her attention they would have been taken care of. She said she will give the residents her business card. JULY 9, 1998 PAGE 4 First Mortgage has a firm policy that none of their employees are to park in front of residences and any offenders will be immediately written up. With respect to parking on Corporate Terrace Way, she is concerned that the area may be restricted to parking. She believes that employees are not parking on Pasco Court because it was never allowed. She said the problem of trash was brought to her attention about a month ago and a trash can has been placed in front of the building. All of the employees have been advised to use the trash can and not leave trash on the street. She has not received any further complaints about trash. C/Istik asked why the employees need to park on adjacent streets and how it happened that there is not sufficient on-site parking. Marla Perez said that the company has 114 employees and has outgrown its 71 parking spaces. Offices that were planned for one person are now accommodating three persons and offices that were planned for four persons are not accommodating from six to nine persons. Marla Perez responded to Chair/Leonard-Colby that First Mortgage is the only occupant of the building. Originally, First Mortgage occupied the top floor only and leased out office spaces. In addition, the company has rents overflow space at the Metro office building on Brea Canyon Road. The building consists of 32,000 square feet. C/Lin asked how First Mortgage enforces no parking in front of residences. Marla Perez said that she surveys the situation daily. In addition, she responds to complaints. C/Lin stated he believes First Mortgage needs to patrol the street. In response to Chair/Leonard-Colby, Marla Perez stated that there is some carpooling. She is looking into whether additional parking space can be leased. C/Istik stated he believes First Mortgage will have to do more to mitigate the situation. The company is not doing enough or there would not be a group of residents who are concerned with the situation. There is a matter of being a good corporate neighbor on a residential street. The integrity and safety of the residential neighborhood is important to the people who live there. Businesses are required to _ provide on-site parking and not use residential streets for overflow parking. Quoting former Traffic and Transportation Commissioner Todd Chavers, he said that "it is not 1 1 JULY 9, 1998 PAGE 5 the responsibility of the citizens of Diamond Bar to provide parking for businesses on every street". First Mortgage is asking the residents who live on the street to live in a business parking lot environment Monday through Friday. Chair/Leonard-Colby stated the business is upside down with 114 employees and 71 parking spaces. DDPW/Liu responded to Chair/Leonard-Colby that the City has no jurisdictional authority in the unincorporated area of Corporate Terrace Way. First Mortgage would need to pursue options for parking on that street with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works. VC/Morris arrived at 7:43 p.m. Debbie Zamacona, 20940 Pasco Court, asked the Commission not to remove the 2 hour parking limitation. Don Gravdahl pointed out that this item has been before the Traffic and Transportation Commission several times since the building was constructed. 2 hour parking was initiated to allow the homeowners some use of the street for visitors. At that time, the Sheriffs Department followed up with enforcement. He said he believes First Mortgage has been given ample opportunity to mitigate the circumstances. Following Commission discussion, C/Istik moved, to retain the 2 Hour Parking, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday -Friday" signs. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote: AYES: COMMISSIONERS NOES: COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS Istik, Lin, VC/Morris, Chair/Leonard- Colby None Virginkar C/Istik moved, VC/Morris seconded, to direct staff to investigate the land use of the existing First Mortgage building to see if it has changed and would, under the City's Code, require additional parking and whether it is enforceable by the City. Staff will review this matter and report back to the Traffic and Transportation Commission on August 13, 1998 with a recommendation. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote: JULY 9, 1998 AYES: NOES: ABSENT: VI. NEW BUSINESS: PAGE 6 COMMISSIONERS: COMMISSIONERS: COMMISSIONERS: Istik, Lin, VC/Morris, Chair/Leonard- Colby None Virginkar A. Installation of a stop sign at the intersecting leg of Golden Prados Drive at Bridle Drive. DDPW/Liu presented staffs report. Staff recommends that the Traffic and Transportation Commission concur with staff to recommend to the City Council the installation of a stop sign at the intersecting leg of Golden Prados Drive at Bridle Drive. Following discussion, VC/Morris moved, C/Lin seconded, to concur with staffs to recommend to the City Council the installation of a stop sign at the intersecting leg of Golden Prados at Bridle Drive. C/Istik stated he would not favor a stop sign on Golden Prados at Bridle Drive because the Vehicle Code allows motorists to roll through the intersection. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote: AYES: COMMISSIONERS NOES: COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS Lin, VC/Morris, Chair/Leonard-Colby Istik Virginkar VII. STATUS OF PREVIOUS ACTION ITEMS: DDPW/Liu stated that the northern portion of the Diamond Bar Boulevard resurfacing project is slated to commence on July 13, 1998. The Diamond Bar Library reopening is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on August 15, 1998. The Pantera Park Grand Opening Ceremonies will be held at 10:00 a.m. on July 25, 1998. VIII. ITEMS FROM COMMISSIONERS: VC/Morris stated that a resident pointed out to him that a citizen is converting an MCI bus to a motorhome and the vehicle has been parked continuously on San Leandro Drive for two months. He asked staff to look at placing consistent street signs at curbs in front of the City's churches. 1 1 1 JULY 9, 1998 IX. ITEMS FROM STAFF: PAGE 7 A. Monthly Traffic Enforcement Update: June, 1998. Lt. Stothers presented the Traffic Enforcement Update. The enforcement index for June was 58-8. X. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS: A. Future Agenda Items. As presented. XI. SCHEDULE OF FUTURE CITY MEETINGS: As presented in the agenda. Chair/Leonard-Colby reminded the Commission that the Off -Site Task Force report will be presented to the City Council at its July 21, 1998 meeting. Chair/Leonard-Colby stated she will not be present for the August 13, 1998 Traffic and Transportation Commission meeting. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the Traffic and Transportation Commission, C/Lin moved, VC/Morris seconded, to adjourn the meeting. Chair/Leonard-Colby adjourned the meeting at 8:37 p.m. Attest' Joy onard-Colby Ch it Respectfully, Secretary